SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING PERFORMANCE DAYS USING EARPHONES WITH BIOMETRIC SENSORS

• US 20160026856A1
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Jaybird LLC (Logitech Europe S.A)
• Inventors: WISBEY, BEN, SHEPHERD, DAVID, DUDDY, STEPHEN
• Granted Patent: US 10,078,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for using earphones with biometric sensors to identify and present information regarding performance periods. Fatigue level associated with fatigue experienced in response to a stimulus and recovery from such fatigue may be determined based on heart rate variability (HRV) data and learned user characteristics. One or more cycles of fatigue and recovery can be identified as a fitness cycle(s), each fitness cycle encompassing a period of time beginning with the stimulus associated with the fitness-related activity and progressing through recovery from the fatigue experienced in response to the stimulus associated with the fitness-related activity. A performance period may be predicted based on a pre-determined fatigue/recovery level instance within a fitness cycle.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a performance period, comprising:

a pair of earphones comprising;

speakers;

a processor; and

a heartrate sensor electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to process electronic input signals from the heartrate sensor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium operatively coupled to at least one of one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to;

identify the user'"'"'s progression through a plurality of fitness cycles, each of the plurality of fitness cycles encompassing a period from the beginning of a stimulus through recovery from the stimulus, wherein identifying the user'"'"'s progression through a plurality of fitness cycles is based in part on signals generated by the heartrate sensor; and

predict optimal performance periods based on the plurality of fitness cycles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, further cause the system to determine a fatigue level occurring in response to the stimulus, wherein the fatigue level is determined based on signals generated by the heartrate sensor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, further cause the system to determine a recovery level based at least in part, on the fatigue level.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a memory, wherein the memory stores an archive comprising learned user characteristics including at least a fatigue profile of the user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the fatigue level and the recovery level are determined based upon the user'"'"'s heart rate variability and the learned user characteristics, wherein the user'"'"'s heart rate variability is determined based on the signals generated by the heartrate sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, further cause the system to display on a display data associated with the plurality of fitness cycles in at least one of a numerical, descriptive, or visual manner.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the heartrate sensor is an optical heartrate sensor protruding from a side of the earphone proximal to an interior side of a user'"'"'s ear when the earphone is worn, and wherein the optical heartrate sensor is configured to measure the user'"'"'s blood flow and to output an electrical signal representative of this measurement to the earphones processor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein predicting optimal performance periods based on the plurality of fitness cycles comprises determining periods of time predicted to occur within each of the plurality of fitness cycles during which experiencing additional stimuli promotes future increased fitness levels.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pair of earphones further comprise a motion sensor, wherein the earphones processor is configured to process electronic input signals from the motion sensor, and wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, further cause the system to monitor a movement of the user based on signals generated by the motion sensor to determine if the movement is indicative of the stimulus.

10. A method of identifying a performance period using earphones with one or more biometric sensors, comprising:

determining heart rate variability data of a user based on signals generated by a heartrate sensor of the earphones;

storing the heart rate variability data in a memory;

identifying a fitness cycle comprising a period of time beginning from a stimulus and progressing through recovery from fatigue experienced in response to the stimulus based on the heart rate variability data and learned user characteristics stored in a memory; and

determining an optimal performance period within the fitness cycle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting a fatigue level associated with the fatigue experienced in response to the stimulus, wherein the fatigue level is detected based on the signals generated by the heartrate sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the optimal performance period comprises determining a period during which the fatigue experienced falls within a range of fatigue level values corresponding to a period of recovery within the fitness cycle.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a recovery level based at least in part, on the fatigue level.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising periodically detecting the fatigue level to determine the recovery level.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying on a display data associated with the fitness cycle in at least one of a numerical, descriptive, or visual manner.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the heartrate sensor is an optical heartrate sensor protruding from a side of the earphones proximal to an interior side of a user'"'"'s ear when the earphone is worn, and wherein the optical heartrate sensor is configured to measure the user'"'"'s blood flow and to output an electrical signal representative of this measurement.

17. A system for identifying a performance period, comprising:

a pair of earphones comprising;

speakers;

a processor; and

a heartrate sensor electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to process electronic input signals from the heartrate sensor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium operatively coupled to at least one of one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to;

determine a fatigue level associated with fatigue experienced in response to a stimulus, wherein the fatigue level is determined based in part on signals generated by the heartrate sensor;

determine a recovery level based at least in part, on the fatigue level;

identify a fitness cycle, the fitness cycle comprising a segment of time beginning from the stimulus and progressing through recovery from the fatigue experienced in response to the stimulus; and

predict an optimal performance period based on the identification of the fitness cycle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the pair of earphones further comprise a motion sensor, wherein the earphones processor is configured to process electronic input signals from the motion sensor, and wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, further cause the system to monitor a movement of the user based on signals generated by the motion sensor to determine if the movement is indicative of the stimulus.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the fatigue level and the recovery level are determined based upon the user'"'"'s heart rate variability and learned user characteristics, wherein the user'"'"'s heart rate variability is determined based on the signals generated by the heartrate sensor.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, further cause the system to display on a display data associated with the optimal performance period and data characterizing the identified fitness cycle.